Planning ahead for the big day brings excitement
and joy, but for most couples it also brings some anxiety. Couples
want to look and feel their best and, just as you need to plan
for all the details of your wedding, this too takes forethought
and preparation.

The saying, "you have to feel good to look good" certainly
holds true. A bride who is on a crash diet may look faint at
the altar. An over abundance of stress may cause a bride or groom
to look ill. So how can you look and feel your best on your wedding
day? The answer is to turn to the professionals, do your part,
and then relax.

Beauty experts agree on this fundamental piece
of bridal advice: the bride should not try to look like someone
else on her wedding day. The bride should choose a look that
will be an extension of herself. Don't do something different
with your hair style or make-up that will make you tense or unsure
of yourself.

Changes and experiments in new looks can be made
successfully, if the "new look" is tried out in advance. Beauty
consultants and salon professionals should be contacted 4 to
6 months before the wedding day for a personal consultation.
This consultation may cover the bride's cosmetic routine, hair
history, headpiece selection and wedding day schedule of events.
This initial meeting also serves as the beginning of a working
relationship between bride and stylist that will continue up
to the wedding. The consultant will want to discuss the bride's
expectations concerning her nails, hair and make-up, and what
can be done to meet or exceed those expectations.

The stylist will help the bride decide on hair
length, type and placement of headpiece, placement of flowers,
highlighting and all other hair concerns. Experts remind brides
that their hair will have to endure the long wedding day with
all its photographs, hugs and dances. To help brides decide,
many salons have styling books for brides to browse through,
and customers are encouraged to bring in photographs depicting
styles they like.

If a permanent wave is chosen, an initial "try-out" perm
should be given about 4 months before the wedding. The final
perm should be done 3 to 6 weeks before, with a final shaping/trim
sometimes done 2 weeks before. If styling without the perm is
desired, the first styling is often done 2 to 6 weeks before
the wedding, depending on the style, amount of hair cut, highlighting,
etc. The final styling is done on the morning of the ceremony.

Beauty consultants remind brides of the importance
of make-up on the wedding day: the bride is the center of attention,
the day is long, and countless photographs are taken. Make-up
helps the bride maintain her radiant good looks throughout it
all. Brides may bring in favorite make-up colors, fabric swatches,
headpieces and any other items which can help establish color
choices. The consultant is trained to look at skin tone to advise
on the best color and shades to enhance the bride's natural tones.
As with hair styling, a practice makeup application is suggested
1 to 4 weeks before the wedding to check for allergies and compatibility.
One area salon owner suggests doing a practice styling with headpiece
and make-up application for the newspaper announcement photograph
as a practical trial run.

Nail care is one area brides sometime overlook.
Don't forget about all the handshakes, people looking at the
ring and the popular photographs featuring hands.

Whether performed in a beauty shop or nail specialty
salon, nail care is important to overall appearance. Brides can
choose from a multitude of colors and are encouraged to bring
in a fabric swatch for matching ahead of time.

In addition to manicures, many brides treat themselves
to pedicures. A pedicure can improve a bride's self-image, help
her to relax during the busy preparation period (they take about
an hour) and assure lovely feet on the honeymoon! By establishing
a relationship with a beauty salon well in advance of her wedding
day, the bride can receive the best worry-free care possible.
These visits culminate in the Saturday morning visit (for a Saturday
afternoon wedding) to the salon for final manicure, styling and
make-up application Some brides make a fun bonding time by booking
appointments for their mothers as well as their attendants to
all go together. Some salons offer special packages for brides
and/or bridal parties.

Groom and Male Attendants

Not surprisingly, today many men are taking advantage
of salon services. Most male clientele will get their final haircut
1 to 2 weeks before the wedding day; they will return for a final
shampoo and hair trim (beard and moustache included) 1 day before
or the day of the wedding.

Massages

If time permits, a massage performed by a professional
is a great way to relax and relieve all the tensions that have
built up this day. The bride, groom and wedding party could probably
use this therapy right about now.